SLIDE 1 Integrating Assisted Reproductive Technologies & Elite Pig Genetics to Transform the Pig Value Chain in Uganda (MAK RIF1/CAES/009)
Kugonza, D.R.; Natumanya, R. (MAK-CAES); Anena, C.P. (MAK-CHUSS); Nadiope, G. (ISU-UP); Mugala, L. (MAAIF) Project Team Inception
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SLIDE 3 Research team/Collaboration
Names & Address Research Roles/Level of Participation
- Dr. Donald R. Kugonza, PhD
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University, Uganda Animal breeding & production Principal investigator, Project Coordinator, Study Designs and Set up, Reporting and Accounting
- Dr. Catherine Pauline Anena, PhD
School of Gender & Women Studies (SWGS), College of Humanities & Social Sciences, Makerere University Gender Specialist & Mainstreaming Gender analysis, Design gender-responsive project actions, Gender-mainstreaming, Project design & Implementation for women integration
Iowa State University – Uganda Program (ISU-UP), Kamuli district, Uganda Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production Mobilisation, Selection and Training of pig farmers; Training AI technicians; Animal Health
- Mr. Robert Natumanya, MSc.
- Dept. of Agricultural Production (DAP),
Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda Animal Reproduction Boar training, Semen collection and evaluation, Training of pig AI technicians/farmers & Actors.
Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry & Fisheries (MAAIF), Entebbe, Uganda Agribusiness Management & Agricultural Extension Farmer training, documentation & profiling; Monitoring & Evaluation; Business dev.
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Introduction
Poor access to good quality pig genetics is a serious challenge limiting productivity to meet high pork dd 52% of SH farmers in central Uganda esp. women don’t keep a breeding boar (Bamundaga et al. 2017) SH farmers keep just a couple of sows make over 75% of all farms and rely on communal boars. 20 years ago, Pork cost half the price of Beef in Kampala, today they are at par.
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The Problem
Low sow productivity –small litter sizes, inbreeding, low growth rates, rampant diseases - ASF; Small litter sizes may result from boar factors – over working, insufficient service, mis-timed service, inbreeding, low genetic potential, poor fertility; MUARIK boar stud needs replacement & expansion to meet demand. Stud is housed in a converted store needs refurbishment to basic standards. A mini-lab for semen processing needs revitalization
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Where our Previous efforts have reached
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Proposed Solution
Pilot testing a community-based pig AI model that uses estrus synch – Luweero, Kamuli, Wakiso; Acquire grade Duroc, Cambrough & Large White boars to produce, process & distribute semen. Determine the best model of distribution of semen to far areas. Develop a boar-based product for detecting estrus in gilts and stimulating sows for service. Develop a next-generation extender to preserve semen beyond 4 days.
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Proposed Solution…….
Build capacity of women and youth pig farmers One cohort of 21 pig inseminators will be trained.
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Relevance of the project
Breeding, Research & Dev., Capacity building in R&D, Specific Input supply, Providing Extension services - 5 of 10 activities in Uganda vision 2040 to enhance agric. production; are focus of this project. This action aligns with NDPII strategy of increasing local meat consumption per capita (NPA, 2015) Enhancing production & productivity of pork, beef cattle, goat, poultry, prod. entomology is a core of the Agricultural Sector Strategic Plan (MAAIF, 2016) Strong alignment to SDG2- Ending hunger, achieve food security & improved nutrition, promote sustainable agriculture.
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Specific Objectives
Promote elite boar semen through artificial insemination in 3 districts through community engagement; Assess the effectiveness of different AI technology delivery models fo scaling up elite pig genotypes; Evaluate the composition and effects of various body discharges of boars on sow reproductive behaviour; Develop, pilot test and promote a new long term boar semen extender to increase sperm life; Refurbish the boar unit infrastructure at MUARIK to basic standards.
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Materials & Methods
Stakeholder Population: 1000 pig farmers in Kamuli, Luweero and Wakiso – will be trained, will participate in trait preference study; will have their pigs inseminated Stage of Solution: Project is piloting/transitioning to scale. Proof of concept, refining collection and insemination protocol, determining acceptability by farmers; Utility of Solution: We will work with 1000 farmers; at least 80 Ugandans are qualified to provide the service; Approach to develop solution:
SLIDE 12 Materials & Methods
Approach to develop solution:
- 1. Selection and promotion of elite boar semen:
5 boars will be selected based on records Farmer training to determine criteria for beneficiary farmers Survey on breeds, production systems, selection criteria, pig performance traits of choice for various gender categories.
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Materials & Methods……
Identify breeding goals thru own herd ranking based on farmer choice, ranking of groups of animals and choice experiments Selected boars [Duroc/Cambrough/Large White??] aged 6- 8 months will be procured, identified, stocked and quarantined at MUARIK. Boars will be trained for semen collection, that will be processed & distributed [To catch time, we shd start with available semen to meet the 1000 planned inseminations]
SLIDE 14 Materials & Methods………
- 2. Assessing effectiveness of different technology delivery
models for scaling up superior genotypes: We shall test 3 models: AI based on out-sourced semen; Use of communal boars; AI based on-farm semen production Semen quality control attributes will be checked at critical points namely: at boar stud, during storage, at user farm Data based on the semen will be collected and analysed for model evaluation to determine best-bet model for production, processing and distribution of boar semen.
SLIDE 15 Materials & Methods………
- 3. Evaluating composition & effects of various body
discharges of boars on sow reproductive behaviour: Boar fluids – semen, urine, saliva and pre-putial fluids will be collected, purified and tested for behaviour responses
Twelve gilts in Four pens will be treated with stimuli for behaviour responses. [Each gilt will be a replicate.]
SLIDE 16 Materials & Methods………
- 4. Developing next generation extenders for boar semen
to increase sperm life: Raw materials will be selected based on cost and function, then procured, stocked, mixed to get recipes based on the period of storage (control, 1-7 days, 1-14 days) and cost. Test recipes will be formulated and tested in the laboratory and in field for fertility performance -------- Semen attributes of extended semen will be assessed per extender. Field inseminations to evaluate extender performance – repeat heats, conception, farrowing rate, litter size.
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Outcomes, Impact, Outreach
Primary beneficiaries are smallholder women and youth pig farmers in Kamuli, Luweero and Wakiso Secondary beneficiaries: Extension agents, NGOs, other knowledge management workers. Anticipated outputs: A renovated boar stud house at MUARIK Restocked stud at MUARIK A community-based AI distribution model developed One boar-based sow stimulant developed One long-term boar semen extender developed
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Outcomes, Impact, Outreach…….
At least 900 pig farmers trained At least 3 social media platforms created for knowledge sharing At least 2 publications generated Post Project expected outcomes: 25,000 pigs produced Reduced incidence and devastation of Swine Fever Reduced inbreeding in pigs and increased number of marketable pigs per year Enhanced food security, increased incomes and improved protein nutrition
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Capacity Building
One PhD student will be supported One MSc student will be trained 3 BSc students will undertake their research and internship under the project Interactions of team members who are from varying disciplines will build their respective capacities. At least 10 members of Makerere Univ community will be capacitated 21 Field AI technicians will be capacitated Over 900 farmers will be capacitated
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Key Milestones
Conduct an Inception meeting for research team Nov ‘19 Engage of leaders of key stakeholder groups – Dec 2019 Rehabilitate Boar stud unit at MUARIK – Dec 2019 Procure five boars, - Dec 2019 Procure Field AI Kits, - Dec 2019 Procure/Fabricate Portable Weigh Crate – Dec 2019 Procure Semen storage Cabinet – Dec 2019 Select target farmers, conduct trainings in best practices for profitable pig production – Feb 2020 Conduct training of one cohort of 21 pig inseminators drawn from the 3 target districts – Jan 2020 Produce, distribute semen for AI – Jun 2020
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Key Milestones…….
Identify approaches to ensure quality AI service, pilot test the community-based AI model – Jun 2020 Collect purify, evaluate candidate boar-based sow stimulants for estrus management – May 2020 Select and characterise candidate materials for formulating next generation long-term boar semen extenders – May ‘20 Conduct lab and field evaluation of candidate semen extenders – Jun 2020 Disseminate project outputs – policy briefs, farmer workshops, Mak-news articles, multi-media documentary, journal papers, Social media posts – Jun 2020 Reports – Feb, April, June 2020
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
MAK RESEARCH & INNOVATION FUND (MAK RIF)
